Step 1

You may use one pound of dry beans or 48 oz. of pre-cooked beans.

Step 2

If using dry beans, rinse 1 pound of navy or great northern dry beans. Pick through the beans for any stones or pebbles. Cover with water and allow to soak overnight.

Step 3

Under running water, rinse any coating off a meaty ham bone. Also, scrape off any surface fat that you can. Add to a larger crock pot.

Step 4

Dice 2 medium carrots, two ribs celery, and one medium onion. Carrot and celery are options but recommended.

Step 5

Add the beans, carrots, celery, and onion to the crock pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and one bay leaf. Add 6 cups of water.

Step 6

Cook on low for 8 hours total if precooked beans and 10 hours for dry beans.  Two hours before the end of cooking, remove ham bone to a cutting board. Allow the bone to cool for 10-15 minutes. Then remove all meat from the bone. Discard bone and any fat and waste.

Step 7

Place meat back into the cooker and finish cooking. This is a good point to taste test for adding salt if needed.